Have you had a tooth or teeth knocked out as a result of sports or an accident? The ideal solution to your problems may be a tooth implant treatment, especially if you want to prevent the scenario in which the location of bridges and partial dentures affects your other teeth. To familiarise yourself with the procedure of tooth implant, the basic procedures are detailed to better equip you to ask questions and discuss different choices with your doctor.
Table of content
The Basics of a Tooth Implant Procedure
- The first step in a tooth implant surgery is to see if you are a good candidate for a dental implant. To avoid difficulties, smokers, heavy drinkers, and persons with healing disorders like as diabetes and anaemia are advised from undergoing this procedure. The second stage is adherence to pre-surgery requirements, which include the administration of x-rays for jawbone analysis as the basis for identifying the best implant device.
- The surgical operation is performed in the third step. Your dentist will determine whether a local anaesthetic or a general anaesthesia will be used to put you to sleep for the duration of the surgery. Antibiotics may also be administered prior to surgery, depending on the results of your medical evaluation.
- The operation entails making an incision in your gums and drilling a tiny hole in your jawbone to create a space. A titanium-alloy cylinder is surgically implanted into your jawbone to function as an artificial root for holding a false tooth. Your gums are then sutured together to allow the implants to heal and merge with your jawbone, providing a solid framework for the artificial tooth. The healing time might take as little as four months and as much as six months.
- Following the surgical treatment, your dentist will advise you to take antibiotics and pain medicines. If the implant is placed in the front of your mouth, you will also be given a temporary bridge or denture to reduce any social discomfort. After ten days, you’ll be told to go back to your doctor to have the stitches removed.
You will have to wait several months after the implant is placed in your jaw for it to osseointegrate, or become linked to your jawbone. Healing time in the lower jaw is typically three to four months, and five to six months in the upper jaw. At this point, the implant’s head is hidden beneath your gum.
- You will be ready for the second procedure after the implants have osseointegrated with the surrounding jaw bone. Following anaesthetic, your surgeon will disclose the implant by making a small incision in your gum. The implant’s protecting screw will be replaced by a collar or metal abutment to allow your gums to heal properly around the implant. The metal abutment is a little titanium cylinder implanted above your gums, where your teeth would be.
- It should be noted that some dentists prefer one-stage implants. These dental implants, which are put in the jaw, remain exposed in the mouth, eliminating the need for a second surgery.
- Normally, you must see your dentist two or three weeks following the second procedure to begin the restoration process or have your crown or bridge built. A crown is used by your dentist to replace a single tooth. The crown will be custom-made to blend in with your other teeth. Metal crowns are frequently used to replace back teeth since the same teeth are subjected to greater pressure from biting and chewing. Because of their natural appearance, ceramic and porcelain crowns are a good choice for replacing front teeth. Meanwhile, an implant-supported bridge is utilised to replace several teeth.
Tell me how much a dental implant costs.
- The cost of a dental implant can range from $1,000 and $4,000 per tooth. A full upper or lower jaw restoration would typically cost between $12,000 and $36,000, while a full mouth restoration may cost between $24,000 and $72,000.
- The price differences in dental implant costs are due to the implant devices used, the type of dental implant done, the dentists’ training and experience, the area and country location, and the amount of additional work done before the dental implants can be placed, such as sinus augmentation for upper jaw implants and bone grafting when there is insufficient bone to hold the implant firmly.
- As a result, a dental implant is less expensive if the scope of work is confined to a single tooth or a small number of teeth. However, if you want full lower or upper jaw tooth restoration, you may want to look into dental finance schemes or ask your dentist whether they take instalment payments.
Categories of Dental Implants
- Endosteal or Root-Form implants Titanium implants are implants that are inserted directly into the jaw bone. These can be screw dental implants or plate form implants, which involve inserting a lengthy, flat implant into the jawbone. After the gum tissue around the implant has healed, a second procedure is required to glue a post to the original implant, to which the artificial tooth or teeth will be attached individually or in a bridge or denture.
- Subperiosteal implants, on the other hand, are employed when the amount of bone available is insufficient to support endosteal implants. Subperiosteal dental implants, rather than being put into the jaw bone, sit on the surface of the jawbone beneath the gums and become fixed after the gums heal. Posts that extend beyond the gums and are attached to the frame are where the replacement teeth will be put. A CAT scan and a cosmetic impression of the jawbone are used to create this type of implant.
Implant Success Rates and Durability
- Five-year studies have showed that lower jaw dental implants have a 95% success rate and upper jaw dental implants have a 90% success rate. Upper jaw implants are more difficult to do because the upper jaw is less dense than the lower jaw, making osseointegration, or implant integration with bone, more difficult to achieve.
- When done correctly and patients follow a regular dental routine, implants can last ten to twenty years.
If you have a missing tooth or need to replace a few teeth, getting a dental implant is a good decision. When undergoing a dental implant operation, always consult your dentist about financing options.
Dental implants are almost as good as natural teeth!
The next revolution in dental care is about to begin. You can take better care of your teeth with our easy-to-use dental resources. From whitening and bonding to crowns and implants, you’ll find a wealth of information at your fingertips and the dentist near me, who cares about your dental and overall health.